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SpinDistribute.com Article Directory

The following article was published in our article directory on February 27, 2012.
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Exmoor self-catering holidays near the medieval Dunster village

Article Category: Travel

Author Name: Sarah Boys

Dunster medieval village nestles in the hillside above Minehead and it is the jewel of the Exmoor National Park. With its cobbled high street, as well as over 200 listed buildings, Dunster has evolved very little during the last two hundred years. The wealth of historic buildings within Dunster includes the old Yarn Market along with the 11th century Dunster castle, both now managed by the National Trust. Close by are the newly restored Tythe Barn, readily available for weddings, along with the Priory Church. Far from languishing in past times, Dunster village contains a variety of unique shops, restaurants and tea rooms, that serve the locals and Exmoor National Park visitors. The village is now made famous by the 'Dunster by Candlelight' spectacular which will take place each year around the first Friday and Saturday in December when the medieval village lights its streets with candles.

Since 700 AD, there's been a settlement at Dunster. Evidence remains of the earliest settlers through the bronze and iron ages with the circular enclosures of Gallax Hill and Bats Castle settlements above Dunster village. In 1086, the settlement was placed in the Domesday book as Torre, derived from tor meaning 'rocky hill'. The name Dunster is thought to have come from the Saxon Dunn who owned land nearby (Dunn's tor).

Dunster castle was built by William de Mohun, who had been gifted Dunster and sixty-eight other manors in the west country, for reward as chief supporter of William of Normandy. During his lifetime at Dunster, the village thrived as a centre for woolen and clothing production and was the beginning of Dunster's wool trading heritage. The Luttrell family, a very prominent family in Exmoor, took ownership of the castle in 1376. In 1590, George Luttrell constructed the Yarn Market on Dunster's high-street to shelter the traders. Up until 1825 there was an array of open stalls and cottages in the centre of the high street, near to the Yarn Market, however they were demolished because of their poor condition.

The English civil war saw Dunster castle become a garrison for the Royalists. The Parlimentarians took the castle in 1645 and ordered it to be destroyed. The orders were not, however, done and the Parlimentarians retained the castle to be a garrison until 1650. Warfare wrought some damage to the Yarn Market and a hole in one of the timbers the result of a cannon ball remains visible today.

A little known fact of Dunster is that it inspired Cecil Alexander, whilst residing in the village, to write the hymn 'All things bright and beautiful'. Indeed the nearby Grabbist Hill, covered in purple heather in summer, is referred to as the 'purple-headed mountain'.

The self-catering barn cottage at Higher Kitswall, just outside Dunster, has views of the 'All things bright and beautiful' valley and makes an excellent base for people wanting to explore the Exmoor National Park by foot, horse or bike. Bev and Don are superb hosts and have many repeat guests who've fallen fond of the peace and tranquility with their farm setting on the outskirts of the Dunster Park. They welcome guests with dogs, horses and children, and with over 20 years experience of the Exmoor National Park they can offer advice on areas to explore and places to visit.

Keywords: Exmoor self-catering, self-catering cottages, Dunster self-catering, Minehead self-catering, Dunster by Candlelight, Exmoor National Park, bed and breakfast, Exmoor holiday cottages

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